 NBA Draft WiretapVan Gundy to run Yao workoutNBA Senior Vice President Stu Jackson has chosen longtime friend and ex-Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy to perform the only workout to be performed by Chinese prospect Yao Ming in Chicago tomorrow, the New York Times are reporting. "Jeff is a first-rate coach, and he should be perfect for this," said Terry Lyons, NBA vice president of international public relations. "His role will be to provide instruction. It will be a typical workout that draft prospects have for a team.” Ming, expected to be chosen either first or second in the upcoming NBA draft, is expected to be watched by at least 22 teams with all 29 being invited. This is said to be Ming’s only workout for teams before the draft. He is expected to go one-on-one with another 7 foot NBA prospect who, according to Greg Logan from Newsday, thus far has been unconfirmed. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Media Makes Too Much of Asian Community's Importance to YaoYao Ming can cement his place as the first player taken in the 2002 draft. Yao will work out Wednesday in Chicago for any interested scout, general manager or coach. Representatives from all 29 teams, including Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson, are expected to attend. There are questions about Yao. No one wants to spend the top pick of the draft for the next Shawn Bradley. But Yao is 7-foot-5, maybe 7-6. He has good hands. He doesn't look to escape the lane to the safe territory behind the 3-point line where he can show his touch. If Yao moves well Wednesday, shows those good hands and stays very tall, there will be a buzz about the workout. Momentum will build. Yao plays as if he knows he's 7-5, maybe 7-6 (though he had trouble staying out of foul trouble in the Sydney Olympics) and by June could be an irresistible choice, particularly when the other potential superstars are years away. As far as the conspiracy theory nonsense that the league will find a way to make sure Yao plays in the right setting, forget it. There is a widespread sense that the Chinese government's interest that Yao plays in a city with a large Asian community has been greatly exaggerated. That might make Yao's time smoother, but his comfort zone is not his government's top priority. The priority of the Chinese government is to get Yao valuable NBA experience before the 2004 and especially the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and to make sure it gets its cut of his income. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Bulls should say no to YaoImagine Bulls GM Jerry Krause squabbling with Chinese officials over the availability of 7-6 center Yao Ming. This is the best reason, writes Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times, that the Bulls should steer clear of the Chinese big man who many consider to be one of the top two draft picks in this June’s draft. ‘If anything, my fortune cookie tells me the sucker who drafts Yao will have no idea when he's coming, if he's coming or, once he does come, how long he's staying,’ writes Mariotti. ‘Unlike lesser products Wang Zhizhi and Menk Bateer, who gained quick approval and play in the league, Yao needs permission from three government agencies to play. He'll also be forced to turn over at least half his pretax earnings from all American sources, including endorsements, to Chinese agencies and sports authorities throughout his NBA career. The remaining half would be divided between Yao, the Sharks, his coaches and his registered agent, who, according to Sharks management, cannot be an American.’ ‘And if he refuses in any way? Oh, he'll be fined obscene amounts, thrown off China's national team and basically be disowned.’ The Bulls should just leave the red tape to another organization and take the safe option (Jason Williams) or the smart trade (a package of Yao and others to Dallas for Michael Finley) concluded Mariotti. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Apr 2002 Archive
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